By Nasratu Kargbo
National Disaster Management Agency’s (NDMA) Director of Risk Reduction and Preparedness Thomas Lebbie has called on gas station owners and managers to equip their staff with knowledge on fire management.
“Fuel Station owners should be organizing refresher courses for their staff to increase their knowledge on fire management, fire prevention, and evacuation,” said Lebbie. The Director made this call during a risk assessment drive that is designed to be rolled out across the country.
He advised that operational filling stations should ensure to put all safety measures in place, as a way of equipping themselves in responding to any fire outbreak.
The Director explained that the assessment was conducted to make sure that gas stations comply with safety guidelines in order to minimize the risk of disaster.
The assessment was conducted to ensure compliance, with a focus on key areas such as whether the fuel stations are constructed in unfavorable locations, and whether they pose threat to lives and properties within the community in which they operate. The team during the last weekend also paid keen attention to stations’ abilities to manage explosion and leakage, looking at the type of fire extinguisher in their possession, the status of storage tanks and dispensers, use of signage, availability of tank ventilators, and the safety of staff.
According to NDMA, they used their specialized tool called ‘KOBO’ to collect accurate data, GPS coordinates, and sequentially categorize fuel stations deemed to be ‘most unfit’ to operate in the country.
NDMA is expected to provide a comprehensive report highlighting fuel stations that are erected in locations that are considered to be high-risk locations and gas stations that are operating below the required standards. The report will target the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA) for appropriate action.
The Agency assured that it will continue its risk reduction drive and put modalities in place to ensure the occurrences of disasters are minimized to the barest minimum.
The pilot risk assessment and hazard profiling targeted four fuel stations (Leonco – Congo Cross, Total – Bus Halt, NP – Siaka Stevens Street, and Malador - Dwazark Junction) in Freetown.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (16/02/22)
